Diabetes complications Flashcards
What are the acute and chronic complications of diabetes?
Acute: Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia
Chronic Complications:
Specific (Retinopathy, Nephropathy, Neuropathy)
and
Non-specific (Coronary artery disease, stroke, peripheral artery disease, infections & amputations)
What are the 2 types of chronic complications>
Microvascular and macrovascular
Name and describe microvascular complications
Diabetic Retinopathy: Leading cause of blindness in working- age adults
Diabetic Nephropathy: Leading cause of end- stage renal disease
Diabetic Neuropathy: Leading cause of non- traumatic lower extremity amputations
Name and describe macrovascular complications
Stroke: 2- to 4-fold increase in cardiovascular mortality and stroke
Cardiovascular Disease: 8/10 diabetic patients die from CV events
What is the definition of hypoglycemia
- Development of neurogenic or neuroglycopenic symptoms
- Low blood glucose (<4 mmol/L if on insulin or secretagogue)
- Response to carbohydrate load
Name Neurogenic (autonomic) and Neuroglycopenic symptoms of hypoglycemia
Neurogenic: trembling, palpitations, sweating, anxiety, hunger, nausea
Neuroglycopenic: difficulty concentrating, confusion, weakness, drowsiness, vision changes, difficulty speaking, dizziness
What is Neuroglycopenia
Neuroglycopenia is a shortage of glucose (glycopenia) in the brain, usually due to hypoglycemia.
How does metformin and insulin affect the risk of hypoglycemia
T2 have taking metformin have low risk
someone taking insulin has quite a high risk
Describe characteristic of mild, moderate and severe hypoglycemia
Mild – Autonomic symptoms present – Individual is able to self-treat Moderate – Autonomic and neuroglycopenic symptoms – Individual is able to self-treat Severe – Requires the assistance of another person – Unconsciousness may occur – Plasma glucose is typically<2.8mmol/L
What happens at each stage of BG drop from 5mmol/L to 1mmol/L
4.4 – 4.7 mmol/L: Decreased insulin secretion
3.6 – 3.9 mmol/L: Increased glucagon, epinephrine, cortisol and growth hormone secretion
2.8 – 3.1 mmol/L: Symptoms (*Note that some patients will have symptoms >3.1 mmol/L due to the counter hormonal release;)
< 2.8 mmol/L: Reduced cognition, aberrant behavior, seizure, potential loss of consciousness and coma**
< 1.5 mmol/L: Neuronal death†
which 2 diabetes meds put people at increased risk of hypoglycemia
people treated with sulfonylureas or insulin
Risk factors for severe hypoglycemia in people treated with sulfonylureas or insulin
- Prior episode of severe hypoglycemia
- Current low A1C (<6.0%)
- Hypoglycemia unawareness e.g. pregnant or elderly don’t feel the symptoms
- Long duration of insulin therapy
- Autonomic neuropathy
- Chronic kidney disease
- Low economic status, food insecurity
- Low health literacy
- Preschool-age children unable to detect and/or treat mild hypoglycemia on their own
- Adolescence
- Pregnancy
- Elderly
- Cognitive impairment
Steps to address Hypoglycemia
- Recognize autonomic or neuroglycopenic symptoms
- Confirm if possible (blood glucose < 4.0 mmol/L)
- Treat with “fast sugar” (simple carbohydrate) (15 g) to relieve symptoms
- RETEST in 15 minutes to ensure the BG >4.0 mmol/L and retreat (aka repeat the steps above) if needed
- Eat usual snack or meal due at that time of day or a snack with 15 g carbohydrate plus protein to ensure sufficient glucose reserves until next meal
Examples of 15 g Simple Carbohydrate
- 15 g of glucose in the form of glucose tablets (recommended option-> more rapidly absorbed)
- 15 mL (3 teaspoons) or 3 packets of sugar dissolved in water
- 150 mL of juice or regular soft drink
- 6 Lifesavers (1 = 2.5 g of carbohydrate)
- 15 mL (1 tablespoon) of honey
Treatment of severe hypoglycemia in a conscious person
20-15-15 rule
- Treat with 20g of oral “fast sugar” (simple carbohydrate)
- Retest in 15 minutes to ensure the BG > 4.0 mmol/L and retreat with a further 15 g of carbohydrate if needed
- Eat usual snack or meal due at that time of day or a snack with 15 g carbohydrate plus protein
Treatment of severe hypoglycemia in an unconscious person with no IV access
- Treat with 1mg of glucagon subcutaneously or intramuscularly** (Treatment with nasal glucagon 3 mg should also be considered.)
- Call 911
- Discuss with diabetes health- care team
- Once conscious, eat usual snack or meal due at that time of day or a snack with 15 g carbohydrate plus protein
Treatment of severe hypoglycemia in an unconscious person with IV access
- Treat with 10-25g (20-50mL of D50W) of glucose intravenously over 1-3 minutes
- Retest in 15minutes to ensure the BG >4.0 mmol/L and retreat with a further 15 g of carbohydrate if needed
- Once conscious, eat usual snack or meal due at that time of day or a snack with 15g carbohydrate plus protein
What is one annoying thing about injectable insulin
It has to be reconstituted
Benefits of nasal glucagon
- no reconstitution required
Name hyperglycemic complications. Which of them are more common in T1 and T2
DKA = Diabetic Ketoacidosis (more common for T1) HHS = Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State (more common for T2)
What is diabulimia
also known as T1ED, is an eating disorder in which people with type 1 diabetes deliberately give themselves less insulin than they need or stop taking it altogether for the purpose of weight loss.
What may hyperglycemia result from?
result from insulin deficiency or increased insulin demand
inflammation, intoxication and meds can change insulin demand and lead to DKA and HHS
stress will cause the release of glucagon, stimulating glucose release
Who is at risk of DKA
- Age <2 years have 3x higher risk of developing DKA compared to those greater than 2 years
- Ethnic minorities have greater risk than non-hispanic white youth.
- Lower socioeconomic status
- Lack of private health insurance
- Lower parental education
- Lower body mass index
- Preceding infection
- Adolescent girls (related to body image issues)
DKA characteristic and treatments
- Ketoacidosis (ph < 7.3 and high ketones)
- ECFV contraction
- Milder hyperosmolarity
- Normal to high glucose
- May have decreased LOC
- Beware hypokalemia (With impaired insulin action and hyperosmolality, utilization of potassium by skeletal muscle is markedly diminished leading to intracellular potassium depletion. Also, potassium is lost via osmotic diuresis causing profound total body potassium deficiency)
- Must use insulin!!
- Absolute insulin deficiency + increased glucagon
HHS characteristic and treatments
• Minimal acid-base problem (pH >7.3) • ECFV contraction • Hyperosmolarity • Marked hyperglycemia • Marked decreased LOC • Beware hypokalemia • May need insulin • Relative insulin deficiency dehydration is the main problem-> treatment is slow rehydration
Clinical presentation of DKA
Hyperglycemia
Symptoms: polyuria, polydipsia, weakness
Signs: ECFV contraction
Acidosis
Symptoms: air hunger, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain altered sensorium
Signs: Kussmaul respiration, acetone-odoured breath altered sensorium
DKA vs HHS in terms of speed of manifestation
DKA develops very fast
HHS is slower to develop (several days)
All diabetics should test for ketones during:
- acute illness accompanied by elevated BG
- stress
- consistently elevated blood glucose levels (>14 mmol/l)
- symptoms of ketoacidosis, such as nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain are present
- pregnancy